Ford Is Banking on Little Fiesta
To Help Lift Sales, Image in Europe

FRANKFURT -- It's been 12 years since Ford Motor Co. rolled out a new Fiesta, an eternity in the auto industry, but the unveiling of the new model next month couldn't be more timely.

Ford, trying to reverse years of shrinking sales and profits, last year launched a sweeping overhaul of its European operation. The early signs are that everything is running on plan, but it may well be the new Fiesta that determines how well Ford really...